The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council Aug. 24 reopened the comment period on a proposed rule to implement President Obama’s Executive Order 13502, which encourages the use of government-mandated, union-only project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal projects costing more than $25 million.
The proposed rule was issued July 14 following a policy memorandum by the Office of Management and Budget encouraging federal department and agency heads to immediately consider the use of PLAs on upcoming federal construction projects.
“More than 84 percent of the construction workforce consists of hardworking taxpayers that choose not to be represented by a union,” said 2009 ABC National Chairman Jerry Gorski, president of Gorski Engineering, Inc., Collegeville, Pa. “However, government-mandated project labor agreements will create a monopoly for unionized contractors on federal construction projects at taxpayers’ expense. Forcing PLAs onto federal projects violates longstanding federal procurement laws that require free and open competition, without favoritism.”
The regulatory process to implement the proposed rule includes a public comment period that began on the same day the regulations were released. The original comment period closed on Aug. 13 but has been reopened for another 30 days. ABC will submit comments to the FAR Council opposing the regulations, but is also encouraging all members to participate in the comment period by expressing their opposition to this policy and highlighting the negative impact it will have on their businesses by the Sept. 23 deadline.
ABC members can submit comments by mail or fax. Comments may be mailed to General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (VPR), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4041, ATTN: Hada Flowers, Washington, DC 20405, or faxed to 202-501-4067. All comments must mention FAR case 2009-005.
To learn more about PLAs and Executive Order 13502, visit
www.thetruthaboutplas.com.